What's New in Microsoft Office Outlook 2016

What's New in Microsoft Office Outlook 2016

As with the rest of Microsoft's newly released Office 2016 productivity software suite, Outlook hasn't undergone any radical changes in design or function. But it has been improved with subtle interface updates and a new Clutter feature for cleaning out messy inboxes.

The app also features a new touch-friendly mode for use on tablets like the Surface Pro 3 or all-in-one PCs like the Lenovo Horizon 2e. So if you undock a tablet connected to a big screen and keyboard, for example, the icons grow larger and more touchable.

I recently sat down with Microsoft's Director of Office 365 Commercial Communications, Alex Bradley, who walked us through Outlook 2016's new charms. Something less noticeable if you're using Outlook on a PC is that its interface is now consistent with what you'll see with the communication app running on an iPhone, Android device, or Windows Phone, too.

But the Clutter feature may be Outlook 2016's most appealing update. It lets you tell the email program what's important to you and what isn't. It doesn't simply delete the less-interesting matter but sequesters them. Bradly explained how Outlook uses multiple signals—how frequently you respond to a particular sender, how many recipients are on the email, and your relationship with the sender, for example.

Many companies have moved to supposed email replacements, such as Slack, for communication, but I'm finding that there's just as much irrelevant clutter in that tool as in email, and it has serious limitations, such as the lack of skimmable subject lines and meeting scheduling. The new feature in Outlook 2016 could offer companies a way to keep the baby while throwing out the bathwater.